Preserving the knowledge of Vietnamese heritage and culture
***TO ATTEND THIS EVENT, PLEASE REGISTER. DETAILS BELOW***
This event is being run in association with the Zo Project.
Email Stella (the event organiser) to register.
Travel to one of the few remaining villages which is still home to the craftsmen and handlers of Water Puppets. This full day study tour will visit Đông Các
Village in Thái Bình Province, approximately 130 kilometers from Hà Nội. The village has over 300 years of Water Puppet history. We will learn about this village‘s individual designs and its unique equipment used to control the puppets; after that we will experience a special performance.
Currently, there are some 20 members of the Đông Các Water Puppet group; we will meet the group‘s head, the two Deputies and some of the troupe‘s members.
Some of the Ward‘s troupe‘s members‘ families have handed this craft down through the centuries. For the troupe members Water Puppets are a first love, but most of the puppeteers must now work in agriculture, carpentry or masonry in order to have enough income to raise their families. The oldest troupe member is 84 years old and the youngest is 35.
Presently only two members, aged 65 and 68, are skilled enough to make the puppets and have only four assistants learning the craft. It is truly a rare and endangered art form. Hữu Ngọc once wrote an article – ‘Do Water Puppets Talk?’ Maybe on this trip we‘ll answer that question.
Bring a packed lunch or have lunch in a nearby local restaurant.
Max 29 pax. Email John to register.
*** PLEASE REGISTER TO ATTEND THIS EVENT. DETAILS BELOW***
Our walk starts outside number 5D Hàm Long street, where the first Communist Party Cell of Hanoi was established. Then along Lò Đúc Street to the Pasteur gardens, and outside the National Institute of Hygiene & Epidemiology (originally the Pasteur Institute). Back up to Lò Đúc and into Nguyễn Công Trứ Street. We will mention some of the buildings from the French era, which sadly have been pulled down to make way for various developments. Carry on to Hai Bà Trưng Lake and the next door temple complex where we touch on the Hai Bà Trưng sisters’ era and their contribution to Vietnamese history. For the final part of the walk we will meander the lanes and alleys of amazing Cho Giời (sky market/Hoa Binh market), one of Hanoi’s huge and intriguing city markets specialised in one genre of goods. We end the walk where the market meets Phố Huế.
This eclectic walk touches on a number of influences that shaped Hanoi’s life. From the communist party to medical Hanoi, from Hebrard’s Indochinese architectural style to the alcohol industry, from the Hai Bà Trưng sisters and worship to the best market where you can find every possible type of tool and spare car parts.
We will visit a pagoda and temple complex but we are not allowed in – only in the temple groundsFor those who do not need to rush off afterwards, if you would like to stay on for something to eat we can have lunch at a nearby local bia hoi. (lunch is an individual expense not included in the walk)
Note that we will walk through Cho Gioi market, which is very crowded, noisy and narrow lanes so please take care of your possessions.
Max 12 people. Email Stella (the event organiser) to register.
We will meet outside 5D Ham Long Street @ 9.15am. See map for meeting point:
*** PLEASE REGISTER TO ATTEND THIS EVENT. DETAILS BELOW***
This walking tour gives an overview of the changes to Hanoi that started in the French period (1869-1954). We touch on the development of the education system, town planning and architecture (including that of the political and diplomatic centre) as well as other eclectic information regarding past and present Hanoi as we walk along. Starting at Chu Văn An school (established by the French as the High School of the Protectorate, and now one of the oldest institutions for secondary education in Indochina) we make our way to Hanoi’s iconic Ba Đình Square and focus on a few of the key government buildings in the area (eg. the Central Committee of the Vietnamese Communist Party – formerly the Lycee Albert Sarrault High School – and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs etc.). Then along Chùa Một Cột street and strolling the surrounding avenues passing former villas now home to various Embassies. Our leisurely walk will take us to Điện Biên Phủ and into Hoàng Diệu street ending our tour at Cửa Bắc (north gate) and Cửa Bắc Church in Phan Đình Phùng street. For those whowould like to stay on for lunch after we will walk to nearby Ngu Xa island for some phở cuốn.
Place: West Lake side – near the back of Chu Văn An school on Nguyễn Đình Thi street (near the restaurant Nhà Hàng Vọng Ba Lâu – map will be sent to those who sign up)
Donation: 70,000 VND (excludes refreshments and lunch if you decide to stay on for a bite to eat)
Limit: 12 people
Contact: Stella – stella@fvheritage.org
Please provide your mobile number when registering.
Notes: We will not be visiting any places of worship so there is no dress code – fine to wear shorts, short sleeves etc.
For those who do not need to rush off afterwards and would like to have lunch, this is an individual expense not included in the tour but is cheap
This walk can often take up to 2.45 hours of you need to leave at any time that is fine
This is a Vietnamese focussed Book Club where we discuss books either written by Vietnamese authors or books based in Vietnam. We encourage women and men of all nationalities to join and be part of this evening book club that meets every first Thursday in a month. This activity is organised by Friends of Vietnam Heritage.
The book we are discussing this month is Last Night I Dreamed of Peace a Diary of Dang Thuy Tram. She was a 24 year old doctor when she went to work in a Vietcong battlefield hospital and just 27 when she was killed. Her voice lives on through these pages. We look forward to an interesting discussion.
Place: Maison De Tet, Villa 156, Tu Hoa St, Nhgi Tam, Hanoi
To register: email Kirstin mckiekirstin@gmail.com or Piu lahiri.piu@gmail.com
